Cade Povich takes the mound this afternoon in the Florida Grapefruit League finale for the Baltimore Orioles. Today’s game was a late add to the schedule, but it isn’t even in Florida. It’s at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, against the Washington Nationals.
Of course starting next year, the two teams will begin an annual home-and-home exhibition series (one game in both parks) to conclude Spring Training. This game is a “standalone” in a sense – but it’s a no-brainer. You have two teams in the region; why not conclude the spring with a “no-stakes game” in a big league park?
It’s low-stakes for sure…but is it? The Battle of the Beltways is a series that plays out more in offices and around holiday tables than it does on the field. And that includes in my own family gatherings; I’m the grandson of a former catcher in the Washington Senators’ system. (I say that using contemporary nomenclature; back in those days what we know as the minor leagues was called “semi-pro.”) You’ll see a great mix of orange and red at Nationals Park if you watch or attend today’s game.
I’m not sure this series will ever be comparable to the Subway Series or Chicago’s Cross-Town Rivalry. However you can’t totally draw more of a parallel with something such as the Texas rivalry either. You have two cities that are both well defined and independent of one another. Yet they’re both cornerstones of the same mid-Atlantic region. This unlike New York or Chicago, where both teams are part of the same city.
Let’s start with the food aspect. Both cities love crabs, and I’m sorry…I take umbrage when people from other parts of the country say that they have decent crabs. Maryland Blue Crabs begin and end the discussion about crabs! That said, ever tried a Half-Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl?! If you like frankfurters and chili (which I do), it’s a delicacy.
I suspect there’ll be a hearty crowd at today’s game. And it’ll be somewhat of a carnival-like atmosphere. But it’s still an exhibition game. I’ll actually be really interested to see how many innings Cade Povich goes today. Brandon Hyde has actually been shortening his starters the last few days. Does that trend continue, or does he play today’s game like a true dress rehearsal? Time will tell. Play ball!
Birdland Crush 